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Royal。＇27＇
The dimensions of the ship may be briefly described。 Her keel
was 114 feet long； and her cross…beam 44 feet。 She was of 1400
tons burthen； and carried 64 pieces of great ordnance。 She was
the largest ship that had yet been constructed in England。
The Prince Royal was； at the time she was built； considered one
of the most wonderful efforts of human genius。 Mr。 Charnock； in
his 'Treatise on Marine Architecture；' speaks of her as abounding
in striking peculiarities。 Previous to the construction of this
ship； vessels were built in the style of the Venetian galley；
which although well adapted for the quiet Mediterranean； were not
suited for the stormy northern ocean。 The fighting ships also of
the time of Henry VIII。 and Elizabeth were too full of
〃top…hamper〃 for modern navigation。 They were oppressed by high
forecastles and poops。 Pett struck out entirely new ideas in the
build and lines of his new ship； and the course which he adopted
had its effect upon all future marine structures。 The ship was
more handy； more wieldy； and more convenient。 She was
unquestionably the first effort of English ingenuity in the
direction of manageableness and simplicity。 〃The vessel in
question；〃 says Charnock； 〃may be considered the parent of the
class of shipping which continues in practice even to the present
moment。〃
It is scarcely necessary to pursue in detail the further history
of Phineas Pett。 We may briefly mention the principal points。
In 1612； the Prince Royal was appointed to convey the Princess
Elizabeth and her husband； The Palsgrave； to the Continent。 Pett
was on board the ship； and found that 〃it wrought exceedingly
well； and was so yare of conduct that a foot of helm would steer
her。〃 While at Flushing； 〃such a multitude of people； men；
women； and children； came from all places in Holland to see the
ship； that we could scarce have room to go up and down till very
night。〃
About the 27th of March； 1616； Pett bargained with Sir Waiter
Raleigh to build a vessel of 500 tons；＇28＇ and received 500L。
from him on account。 The King； through the interposition of the
Lord Admiral； allowed Pett to lay her keel on the galley dock at
Woolwich。 In the same year he was commissioned by the Lord
Zouche； now Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports； to construct a
pinnace of 40 tons； in respect of which Pett remarks； 〃towards
the whole of the hull of the pinnace； and all her rigging； I
received only 100L。 from the Lord Zouche； the rest Sir Henry
Mainwaring （half…brother to Raleigh） cunningly received on my
behalf； without my knowledge； which I never got from him but by
piecemeal； so that by the bargain I was loser 100L。 at least。〃
Pett fared much worse at the hands of Raleigh himself。 His great
ship； the Destiny； was finished and launched in December； 1616。
〃I delivered her to him；〃 says Pett； 〃on float； in good order and
fashion； by which business I lost 700L。； and could never get any
recompense at all for it； Sir Walter going to sea and leaving me
unsatisfied。〃＇29＇ Nor was this the only loss that Pett met with
this year。 The King； he states； 〃bestowed upon me for the supply
of my present relief the making of a knight…baronet；〃 which
authority Pett passed to a recusant； one Francis Ratcliffe； for
700L。； but that worthy defrauded him； so that he lost 30L。 by the
bargain。
Next year； Pett was despatched by the Government to the New
Forest in Hampshire； 〃where；〃 he says； 〃one Sir Giles
Mompesson＇30＇ had made a vast waste in the spoil of his Majesty's
timber； to redress which I was employed thither； to make choice
out of the number of trees he had felled of all such timber as
was useful for shipping； in which business I spent a great deal
of time； and brought myself into a great deal of trouble。〃 About
this period； poor Pett's wife and two of his children lay for
some time at death's door。 Then more enquiries took place into
the abuses of the dockyards； in which it was sought to implicate
Pett。 During the next three years （1618…20） he worked under the
immediate orders of the Commissioners in the New Dock at Chatham。
In 1620； Pett's friend Sir Robert Mansell was appointed General
of the Fleet destined to chastise the Algerine pirates； who still
continued their depredations on the shipping in the Channel； and
the King thereupon commissioned Pett to build with all dispatch
two pinnaces； of 120 and 80 tons respectively。 〃I was myself；〃
he says； 〃to serve as Captain in the voyage〃being glad； no
doubt； to escape from his tormentors。 The two pinnaces were
built at Ratcliffe； and were launched on the 16th and l8th of
October； 1620。 On the 30th； Pett sailed with the fleet； and
after driving the pirates out of the Channel； he returned to port
after an absence of eleven months。
His enemies had taken advantage of his absence from England to
get an order for the survey of the Prince Royal； his masterpiece；
the result of which was； he says； that 〃they maliciously
certified the ship to be unserviceable； and not fit to
continuethat what charges should be bestowed upon her would be
lost。〃 Nevertheless； the Prince Royal was docked； and fitted for
a voyage to Spain。 She was sent thither with Charles Prince of
Wales and the Duke of Buckingham； the former going in search of a
Spanish wife。 Pett； the builder of the ship； was commanded to
accompany the young Prince and the Duke。
The expedition sailed on the 24th of August； 1623； and returned
on the l4th of October。 Pett was entertained on board the Prince
Royal； and rendered occasional services to the officers in
command； though nothing of importance occurred during the voyage。
The Prince of Wales presented him with a valuable gold chain as a
reward for his attendance。 In 1625； Pett； after rendering many
important services to the Admiralty； was ordered again to prepare
the Prince Royal for sea。 She was to bring over the Prince of
Wales's bride from France。 While the preparations were making
for the voyage； news reached Chatham of the death of King James。
Pett was afterwards commanded to go forward with the work of
preparing the Prince Royal； as well as the whole fleet； which was
intended to escort the French Princess； or rather the Queen； to
England。 The expedition took place in May； and the young Queen
landed at Dover on the 12th of that month。
Pett continued to be employed in building and repairing ships； as
well as in preparing new designs； which he submitted to the King
and the Commissioners of the Navy。 In 1626； he was appointed a
joint commissioner； with the Lord High Admiral； the Lord
Treasurer Marlborough； and others； 〃to enquire into certain
alleged abuses of the Navy； and to view the state thereof； and
also the stores thereof；〃 clearly showing that he was regaining
his old position。 He was also engaged in determining the best
mode of measuring the tonnage of ships。＇31＇ Four years later he
was again appoint